NOT EATING?? Found Few Day Old Sparrow -PICS-

[DuckFanatic]

My little brother found a little baby sparrow by our house. It's nest is too far up to reach and I read that it's pointless to put them back because they are just going to be pushed out again. I put it in a tupperware lined with a hand towel and have been feeding it canned cat food. It looks a few days old from looking at pictures. What do I give it for heat? I don't have any heating pads and warm lights seem WAY too bright. So you're supposed to feed them every 15- 30 minutes, only during the day? What else do I need to do for it... Any tips? Killing it because sparrows are nuisances and mean to the native birds isn't an option. Thanks!

 

[DuckFanatic]

I need to give it heat pronto.. Anyone????

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Neat! I raised a young sparrow like that from a baby years ago. I used dry dog food soaked in water and then weaned him off onto finch seeds. He lived for about three years before he finally died. I really missed his chirping aftwer he was gone :-( His name was Lucky.

 

[sonew123]

warm packs? can you warm a wet washclothe up real good and put in ziplock bagies under a towel for her to lay on and a towel over her to keep heat in it?

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I would put it on a heating pad set on low. That should be just fine. Just make sure you keep a towel or wash cloth between the heat pad and the bird so it doesn't get burnt.

 

[DuckFanatic]

Thanks so much! I don't have a heating pad but I do have a little sack filled with dried corn or something to heat up in the microwave. What do I do for heat tonight?
I don't need to feed it during the night, right?

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

It will be fine without food during the night. During the day I typically feed the babies every hour or so. The corn sack would work for now, just make sure you don't burn the baby. Another thing that would work are those throw away heating pad things. The ones you have to crush and shake. Those usually last a good 6-8 hours or so.

As for food, just soak some dry dog food in water and break off little pieces to feed the baby. You may have a hard time trying to get it to eat the first couple times, but sometimes you can tap them on the beak lightly and they will open. Manually opening the beak should be a last resort. I usually just use my fingers to feed and I poke the food down the throat with my pinky. I would try and feed the baby once before bed tonight, then get up early and feed again. They do like to be fed early in the morning!

 

[DuckFanatic]

Alright, I can invest into some throw away heating pads... but what about for tonight? It's been eating canned cat food out of a syringe well so far.. is that okay rather than soaked dog food? I read every 15- 25 for feeding but you think every hour's fine? Tomorrow my mom said she'll feed it because I'll be at school so if what you say about every hour is right it would make life a lot easier. I had the idea of putting the tupperware on the box on the computer cord that gets hot..?

 

[paddock36]

A friend of mine takes care of baby squirrels and she tells people to make a rice buddy to keep them warm when they don't have a heating pad. All you do is put dried rice in a sock and tie up the end. Then, put it in the microwave for about 30 seconds and then put it next to the babys. Maybe you could use that.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

On top of the computer might work. Just check on the baby and make sure it doesn't get chilled. As for the cat food, I would try and switch to dog food when you can. Cat food has different amounts of protein and fats than birds need. However, it shouldn't hurt the baby for now.